Switch



Oct. 24, 1961 R. N. YEAGER 3,005,886

SWITCH Filed Dec. 5l, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 WWM @Ogm/2m v R. N. YEAGERSWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Deo. 3l, 1959 /E 6 3 2 A 7 d N. Z W m 4 P4 @f7 0 9 j--. d 3 o 2 O O mv O u a 4 @Wj #.-Tlm O E L 7 O 9 4 UnitedStates Patent O 3,005,886 SWITCH Ralph N. Yeager, 2808 NW. 45th St.,Oklahoma City, Ukla. Filed Dec. 31, 1959, Ser. No. 863,168 2 Claims.(Cl. 20G- 80) 'I'his invention relates to fluid How-responsive switchdevices, and more particularly to a switch device which may be employedto modulate the ow of materials through a processing system inaccordance with the ilow of lair past a control point in the system, thedevice being arranged to operate automatically to provide a controlaction responsive to the failure of air ilow at the control point.

Amain object of the invention is to provide a novel and limproved uidflow-responsive switch device which is simple in construction, which iseasy to install, and which is reliable in operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved uidflow-responsiveswitch device especially adapted for use in modulatingthe flo-w of dry material through a pneumatic conveying system inaccordance with the ilow of air past a control point in the system, thedevice involving relatively inexpensive components, bein-g durable inconstruction, and being sensitive in its response.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the following description and claims, and from the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical cross sectional view taken through an improvediluid flow-responsive switch device according to the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a horizontal cross sectional View taken substantially on theline 2 2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary horizontal cross sectional view takensubstantially on the line 3 3 of FIGURE 1.

Referring to the drawings, 11 generally designates an improved fluidHow-responsive switch device according tothe present invention. Thedevice 11 comprises a housing 12 adapted to be mounted in a fluid owconduit, for example, in an air conduit of a pneumatic conveying system,or lsimilar processing plant. The housing 12 is generally circular inshape and is provided with an inlet opening 13 in the side wallsthereof, whereby fluid may enter the housing. If desired, an intake duct14 may be secured to the side wall of the housing to guide air orsimilar fluid into the housing at the intake opening 13 thereof,:although under certain conditions, the duct 14 is not required. Thebottom wall 15 of housing 12 is provided with a central dischargepassage 16 which allows the luid to leave the housing.

Designated at 18 is a squared vertical shaft which extends axially intothe housing 12 and which extends upwardly through a generallycylindrical auxiliary housing 19 secured axially to the top wall of themain housing 12. The auxiliary housing 19 may comprise the mating upperand lower segments 20 and 21, said segments being formed with abuttingconnecting anges 22 and 23 which are fastened together by suitable bolts24 extending through the flanges 22 and 23 and spaced at uniformdistances around said flanges. A sealing gasket 25 is preferablyinterposed between the connecting flanges 22. and 23. The bottom segment21 of the auxiliary housing 19 is secured by fastening screws 26 to thethickened rim 27 formed onthe top wall of main housing 12 around thecentral aperture 28 thereof through which the shaft 18 extends.

The bottom wall 29 of housing segment 21 is formed with a centralcircular opening 30 which rotatably receives the squared Vertical shaft18. Shaft 18 is formed with a reduced cylindrical top end portion 31which is ICC journaled in a bearing bushing 32 secured in an upstandingaxial conduit 33 formed centrally in the top wall 34 of upper housingsegment 19. Secured to the lower portion of the squared shaft 18 is abearing collar member 35 which is rotatably supported on a bearingwasher 36 surrounding the shaft 18 and resting on the bottom Wall 29 oflower housing segment 21. Collar 35 is integrally formed with acylindrical upstanding guide sleeve 37 in which is positioned la coiledspring 38 which exerts upL ward biasing force on a squared sleeve member39 slid- -ably and non-rotatably engaged on the upper portion of thesquared shaft 18. The lower end of the spring 38 is supported on thecollar member 35.

Secured to the bottom end of the squared shaft 18 is an impellerassembly 40 comprising a circular top supporting disc 41 and an annularbottom ring element 42 disposed parallel to the top disc 41. A pluralityof arcuately curved vertical vane elements 43 connect the top disc 41 tothe annular bottom ring element 42, the arcuate vane elements 43 servingto-receive the flowing fluid in the air conduit in which the device ismounted, causing the impeller 40 to rotate in response to the movementof the flowing Huid, the fluid discharging through the bottom passage 16of housing 12. The uid enters the housing through the intake opening 13,being guided thereto by the intake duct 14 when such duct is employedwith the housing.

Designated at 44 is a switch `arm which is hinged `at 45 to an inwardlyprojecting horizontal lug 46 formed in the top housing segment 19, thearm 44 being provided with an opening 46 through which the shaft member18 extends and in which said shaft member is freely rotatable. Arm 44 isprovided at its free end with a depending, transversely extendingcontact element 47 which is located immediately above a pair of spacedswitch contacts 48, 48 mounted on an insulating support 49 secured Vtothe wall of upper housing segment 19. The bridging switch conductor 47may be fastened in any suitable manner to the switch arm 44, and may besuitably insulated therefrom. As will be apparent from FIGURE l, whenthe switch aim 44 is allowed to rotate downwardly, namely, in acounterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE l, the conductivebridging member 47 moves into engagement with the spaced switch contactelements 48, 48, thereby closing the switch. A biasing spring 50 isprovided between the switch arm 44 and the top wall 34 of upper housingsegment 20, the spring 50 receiving an upstanding guide lug 51 in itslower end portion, said guide lug being formed integrally on the switcharm 44 and receiving la depending guide lug 52 at its top end, saidguide lug 52 being integrally formed in top wall 34 of upper housingsegment 20. The switch arm 44 is normally supported by the circular topilange 5-3 formed on the top end of the sleeve member 39, a bearingwasher 54 being interposed between ilange 53 and arm 44, as is ciearlyshown in FIGURE'l, to transmit the upward bias,- ing force of the coiledspring 38 from flange 53 to said switch arm 44. Spring 38 is of sumcientstrength to overcome the downward biasing force exerted by the coiledspring 50 on the arm 44 under normal conditions, namely, when the shaft18 is stationary `or is rotating at a speed less than a predetermineddefinite value, as will be presently explained.

Designated at 60 are a plurality of weight members of any suitable heavymaterial, such as lead, or the like, said weight members being spacedaround the upstanding guide sleeve 37 and being connected between flange53 and flange 35 by flexible link means which allows the weight member60 to move outwardly 4by centrifugal force. Thus, each weight member 60is provided with a bottom lug 61 to which is pivotally connected the topend of a bottom connecting link 62, the bottom end of the 3 link beingpivotally connected to a radial flange 63 integrally formed with thebottom ange 35 and the spring guide sleeve 37, as is clearly shown inFIGURE 1. The top end of each weight member 60 is formed with -a lug 64to which is pivotally connected the bottom end of a top connecting link65. The top end of each link 65 is formed with a swivel ball 66 which isrotatably received in a suitable swivel socket 67 formed in the flange53, `as shown. Thus, the link rod 65 extends through an aperture in theflange 53, and the generally spherical socket 67 is formed around theaperture to receive the enlarged generally spherical swivel ball 66 ofthe link member 65.

As shown in FIGURE 3, four weight members 60 may be provided, althoughany desirable number of such weight members may be employed.

In operation, when the shaft 18 rotates at more than a specilicpredetermined speed, due to the rotation of the impeller assembly 40produced by flow of air through the housing 12, the weight members 60move outwardly sufliciently to cause the bridging conductor 47 to engagethe switch contact elements 48, 48. This closes the switch, whereby tocause material to be fed to the system, or to provide any other desiredcontrol action required to be performed in the system simultaneouslywith the move ments of the air through the duct or other passage inwhich the device is mounted. When the flow of air drops below therequired speed, whereby insufficient air is moving through the passagein which the device is mounted, the impeller 4t) slows down, allowingthe weights 6i) to move inwardly toward their normal positions, wherebythe spring 38 elevates the switch arm 44 and causes conductor 47 todisengage from the switch contacts 48, 48, opening the switch. This maystop the feeding of materials into the system until an adequate flow ofIair is restored in the passage in which the device is mounted.

A conduit 70 is formed integrally with the upstanding axial conduit 33and is integrally connected with the top wall 34 of upper housingsegment 20, providing a passage for electrical conductors associatedwith the switch device. Thus, respective conductors 71 and 72 may beconnected to the switch contact elements 48, 48, said conductorsextending upwardly through the conduit 70 and the axial opstandingconduit 33 to the motor or other device being controlled.

Rigidly secured on the intermediate portion of the lower housing segment21 is la liange 72 provided with a plurality of radial sleeve elements73 in which are slidably mounted radially extending, horizontalsupporting rods 74 which may be employed to support the device on thctop wall of an air duct or similar passage rwith the main housing 12positioned inside the duct or similar passage and disposed in aposit-ion to respond to the variations in the flow of air through saidduct or passage. The rod ymembers 74 are slidable outwardly to engagethe marginal portions of an opening in the top wall of the duct orpassage so as to support the device in its operating position. Theflange 72 may be secured on the lower housing segment 21 at any desiredposition thereon, said flange being provided with a clamping band 76which is split and provided with respective opposing lug elements 77 and78 through which extends a clamping bolt 79, so that the band 76 may berigidly secured in an adjusted position on the lower housing segment 21by tightening the clamping bolt 79.

Obviously, if so desired, the band 76 may be engaged on the upperhousing segment 20 if it is necessary that the main housing 12 besupported in a lower position in the `duct or passage on which thedevice is mounted.

While a specific embodiment of an improved huid ilowresponsive switchdevice has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will beunderstood that various modifications within the spirit of the inventionmay occur to 4 those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended thatno limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scopeof the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A uid flow-responsive switch device comprising a generally circularhousing adapted to be mounted vertically in a tluid flow conduit, saidhousing having a peripheral fluid inlet opening and a central bottomfluid discharge opening, a vertical squared shaft member journaled insaid housing, a vane assembly secured to the llower end of said shaftmember and being disposed in the uid flow path between said inletopening and said discharge opening, whereby to rotate said Ishaft memberresponsive to fluid flow, a squared sleeve member slidably andnon-rotatably engaged on said shaft member, collar means secured to saidshaft member and spaced from said sleeve member, outwardly movablevertically elongated weight members normally disposed externallyadjacent to and parallel to said shaft member, link means connecting theopposite ends of said weight members respectively to said sleeve memberand said collar means, a switch arm pivoted in said housing above `andadjacent to said sleeve member, a contact member mounted in the housingsubjacent said switch arm and being engageable by said switch arm, rstspring means Ibiasing said switch arm downwardly toward engagement withsaid contact member, and second spring means biasing said sleeve memberupwardly into engagement with said switch arm and opposing said rstspring means, said weight members being movable outwardly by centrifugalforce to overcome the force of said second spring means responsive torotation of said shaft member above a predetermined speed.

2. A fluid How-responsive switch device comprising a generally circularhousing, a ange secured to said housing and extending outwardlytherefrom, a plurality of spaced radial sleeve elements on said flange,radially extending supporting rods slidably mounted in said radialsleeve elements, for supporting said housing in a uid ow conduit, thelower portion of said housing having a peripheral iluid inlet openingand a central bottom uid discharge opening, a vertical square shaftmember journaled in said housing, a vane assembly secured to the lowerend of said shaft member and being disposed in the fluid flow pathbetween said inlet opening and said discharge opening, whereby to rotatesaid shaft member responsive to fluid flow, a squared sleeve memberslidably and non-rotatably engaged on said shaft member, collar meanssecured to said shaft member and spaced from said sleeve member,outwardly movable vertically elongated weight members normally disposedadjacent to `and parallel to said shaft member, link means connectingthe opposite ends of said weight members respectively to said sleevemember 'and said collar means, a switch arm pivoted in said housingabove and adjacent to said sleeve member, a contact member mounted inthe housing subjacent said switch arm and being engageable by saidswitch arm, rst spring means biasing said switch arm downwardly towardengagement with Said contact member, and second spring means Ibiasingsaid sleeve member upwardly into engagement with said switch arm andopposing said first spring means, said rweight members being movableoutwardly by centrifugal lforce to overcome the force of said secondspring means responsive to rotation of said shaft member above apredetermined speed.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,111,284 Girl et al. Mar. l5, 1938 2,777,913 Kovach Jan. 15, 19572,882,364 Warren e Apr. 14, 1959

